Haley & Zach’s Forsyth Park Elopement in Savannah

Haley has a serious love of autumn, so she was thrilled when Zach proposed in a corn maze. Of course, she said yes! Haley says everyone knew she was not a traditional wedding type of girl, so it surprised no one when the couple chose to elope. With its Spanish moss and southern romance, Forsyth Park turned out to be the perfect place for these two. They tied the knot around the historic Savannah fountain with those closest to them. We love that they had a ‘first look’ moment with each other. Be sure to read their encouraging words about choosing to elope. They loved every moment of their Simply Eloped experience, and we couldn’t be happier to hear that!

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

Haley: We met on the dating app Hinge. My honest first thought when I saw him was that he looked like he worked out every day, and there was no way he’d be into me. He said he fell in love with my smile and dimple right away. I think our shared sense of humor also played a big part in that. 

How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

Haley: My favorite time of the year is fall. I love everything about fall and Halloween, so Zach proposing while at an orchard & cider mill was perfect. We had gone to Lexington for a weekend getaway, and he proposed while we were in the corn maze. Obviously, I said yes.

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination? 

Haley: We eloped in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia. We considered a few locations that Simply Eloped offered, but ultimately we settled on Savannah because of the romantic feel of the city and Forsyth Park. After seeing our photos, I am so happy with our choice. The park is beautiful, and I love all the Spanish moss and old Savannah homes outside the park (and, of course, the fountain). My parents, my sister & brother-in-law (and soon-to-be nephew) all just moved to Savannah (AFTER we planned to elope here), so I think this will be a very special place for us.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What was special about eloping there? 

Haley: The scenery and romance of Forsyth Park are what attracted us to that venue. I knew the photos would be beautiful, and they really capture the southern romantic feel. I loved being in the middle of the city and not having to travel very far out for our ceremony so we could easily go to dinner right after. We also stayed at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, so we could just walk over to the park, which was so convenient. 

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there? 

Haley: Think beautiful landscapes and gorgeous architecture filled with history. There’s both a romantic and eerie vibe due to the “hauntedness” of Savannah. The whole city of Savannah is filled with history, and I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the venues here. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Haley: We kept with tradition and didn’t see each other the day of our elopement until the ceremony. I spent the day relaxing at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, and hair and make-up came to me. I walked to a cute cafe in the morning and had lunch delivered to me. My flowers were also delivered to the hotel. After I got dressed, my day-of helper met me outside the hotel, and we walked to the park together while she went over the action plan. Zach spent the day hanging out with his mom and walking the city until he had to get dressed and meet at the park. We were both a little nervous right before the ceremony, but the “first look” really helped ease the nerves. 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Haley: I loved every part of my experience with Simply Eloped. I think the cost was reasonable, and the whole process was so easy. I booked with Simply Eloped, booked hotels and flights. We basically had our whole elopement planned in an hour. 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Haley: We never really celebrated our elopement, but we still might do something with family and friends later on.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping? 

Haley: Do it!! People know that I’m not a wedding person. I have planned to elope for a loooong time. Your wedding should be about you. You shouldn’t need to spend an arm and a leg for this one day that goes by in the blink of an eye. Eloping together in Savannah was so special, and we got to spend the time together, not mingling with hundreds of other people and stressing about the day. However, my parents and Zach’s mom were at our ceremony, and I would definitely recommend inviting those closest to you. Initially, we weren’t going to have any guests, but now I am really glad that they were there. Also, don’t let the added tasks of eloping in another state scare you away. We are from Ohio & Northern Kentucky, and we eloped in Georgia. We applied for a marriage license in the county we were getting married in, made an appointment at their probate court for the day before our elopement, and got our marriage license that day. It’s much simpler than it sounds, so don’t let it scare you away from going where you want to go.

Officiation by: Melissa Couch
Photography by: Karen Norian
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Jessica Malpas
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Forsyth Park, Savannah

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.